Chocolate coating ice cream bars



Dec. 16, 1941. J. F. HAGERTY CHOCOLATE COATING ICE CREAM BARS Filed oct. 19, 1939 4 sheets-sheet 1 5g 1"1 I; l

Dec. 16, 1941. 1 F HAGERTY CHOCOLATE COATINC ICE CREAM BARS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 19, 1959 mmm'- Dec. 16, 1941. J. F. HAGERTY I 2,266,635

CHOCOLATE COATING ICE CREAM BARS Filed 001,. 19, 1939 4 Sheets-'Sheet 3 Jai? /7 @7575/7 Dec. 16, 1941. J, F, HAGER-ry 2,266,635

CHOCOLATE vCOATING ICE CREAM BARS Filed Oct. 19, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 n h-l@ e @www Patented Dec. 16, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE 2,266,635 CHOCOLATE CoATING IICE CREAM Bans Joseph F. Hagerty, Fremont, Ohio Application October 19, 1939, Serial No. 300,121

This invention relates to the severing and coating of sectionsof material.

This invention has utility when incorporated in cutting fragments or defined sections from ice cream, even in multiple, and coating as with chocolate.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the invention in an ice cream bar machine for coating such with chocolate;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a block of the ice cream as supplied to the machine of Fig. 1, with indication in dotted lines of the subdivision therefor; I

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a chocolate coated ice cream service portion or bar, a portion being broken away to show the Coating; while the dotted lines indicate range of dimension variation with the machine of Fig. 1; f

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the machine of Fig. 1, the supply belt being without ice cream block thereon, and the turn table or carrier for the coating sequence, being removed;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary bottom plan of the carrier as to the mounting pins and spreader device therefor;

Fig. 6 is' a view on the line VI-VI, Fig. 5, of the ice cream mounting and spreader for an ice Cream bar pair;

Fig. 7 is a section on the line VII-VII, Fig. 6, showing the spreader cam for the ice cream bar mounting pins;

Fig. 8 is a section on the line VIII-VIII, 5,

showing the guide holder to maintain the spreadj )er cam from rocking;

Fig. 9 is a section on the line IX-IX, Fig. 1, showing the main drive shaft and the various drives therefrom;

Fig. l0 is a section on the line X-X, Fig. 4, showing the molten chocolate reservoir and lifting cup, the dotted lines disclosing dip position taken by the cup to immerse pin-carried ice cream bar pair;

Fig. 11 is a section on the line XL-XI, Fig. 4, showing the hot oil immerser or defrostcr for the ice cream bar mounting pins, as such pins have been cleared of the coated pair of ice cream bars;

Fig. 12 is a section on the line XII-XII, Fig. 4, being across the supply way, and disclosing the tightener for the ice cream block conveyor belt;

Fig. 13 is a view partially on lthe line XIII- XIII, Fig. 9, additional parts being broken away, more particularly for showing the operating parts for the cup lifter in coating and the pin defroster;

Fig. 14 is a section on the line XIV-XIV, Fig.

9, showing the control cam for bringing down the T-shaped severing blade or knife, effective for simultaneously cutting, from'the block, a pair of service sections of ice cream;

Fig. 15 is a section on the line XVXV, Fig. 14, showing the clearance space or bevel of the receiving table or plate `for the pair of ice cream sections impaled on the pins as the block is projected along the supply way by the conveyor belt, this bevel clearance being increased toward the belt as such is retracted at th'e cutting'position for the knife; and

Fig. 16 is a diagram in circular or polar sequence of the operations as occurring in the functioning of the ice cream bar coating machine hereunder.

Casters i have swivel mounting 2 with angle I bars 3 (Fig. 1) from which uprights 4 of the frame extend in providing legs mounting cross bars 5, 6, deck 1, and end bars 8. Bar 5 has slot 9 through which bolt I0 extends to provide clamp mounting for base l I. The base I I is thereby adjustable as to the frame in. locating motor I2, having shaft I3 carrying a pulley I4 about which extends a V-belt I5 which reaches upward about pulley I6 on shaft I1 extending into worm gear speed reduction housing I8, on frame I9 carried by bars 6 of the frame. The motor adjustment 9, I0, permits tightening desired for the belt I5.

From thev speed reduction housing I8 projects a shaft 20 with which is fixed a pinion 2| in mesh with a gear 22 xed with a shaft 23 carried by bearings 24, 25, depending from the deck 1 of the frame. This horizontally extending shaft 23 lengthwise below the top of the frame has therefron various control connections for sequence of operations hereunder.

It is in order that the operator throw in a switch 26, thereby connecting electric power supply lines 21 as power supply by way of conduit 28 for electric heater 29 having heaty emitting portion 30 (Fig. 10) in outer chamber or jacket 3l for hot chocolate reservoir 32.

On the frame adjacent the switch 26, is a switch 34 (Fig. 9) for cutting in an electricpower supply by way of conduit 35 to the motor I2.

A third switch 36, in the bank with the switches 26, 34, is effective, as thrown, to have the electric current effective through a conduit 31 for acting at an electric heater device 38 (Fig. 11) in a the frame and adjacent blade 44, 45. At the lifted position for the blades, there is such proximity to this device 42 that the temperature of the blades may be such as not to adhere to the ice cream or frozen confection being handled.

A block 46 of congealed material (Fig. 2), is placed on belt 41 (Fig. 1) between parallel side walls or guides 48. The belt 41 has minor prongs or flights 49 insuring that the block 46 may travel therewith and that the overhanging projecting portion at the delivery end may be deflnitely thrust therefrom. Carrying the guides 48 is the belt mounting housing having side walls 50 with rollers on short tracks52 at the top of the frame. Shafts 53 through the belt housing mount pulleys 54 about which the belt 41 extends.

The belt drive On the shaft 23 is a cam 55 which acts on a roller 56 carried by a lever 51 hanging from the upper portion of the frame. This rocking of the lever 51 is effective through a link 58 to act upon an adjustable length arm 59 mounted on a rock shaft 60 at bearings 6| across the end of the frame. A slot 62 is in the link 58. A connecting bolt therefrom to the arm 59 may be adjusted to vary the distance or time the travel of the belt 41 from the intermittent grip device. Furthermore, an arm 63 of the lever 51 carries adjusting screw 64. The position of this screw is an additional factor in determining the feed travel effective from the cam 55. Fixed with the rock shaft 60 is an upstanding arm 65 from which extends a link 66 to lever 61 of an intermittent grip device. The lever 61 is fulcrumed on a shaft 68 carried by the belt housing side walls 50. A ratchet pawl 69 is mounted on the lever 61 and is normally held by a spring in mesh with a ratchet gear 1| fast on the shaft 68 as to which the lever' 61 is loose. The shaft 68 as extending through the housing carries gear 12 (Fig. 4) in mesh with a pinion 13 on one of the shafts 53. Accordingly the upper reach of the belt 41 is given a step by step feed in progressing a block of material to ride therefrom and be impinged upon pins 14 above receiving table 15 having bevel edge 16 (Figs. 4, 15) toward the belt.

The cutter operation A cam 11 (Fig. 1)VI on the shaft 23, rides against a roll 18 (Fig. 14) mounted on a block 19 fixed with upright pair of rods 80 slidable in guides 8| mounted in the frame. The blade 44, 45, is fixed with the upper terminal portions of the rods 80.

The roller 18 is held against the cam 11 through the thrustingof links 8| from the levers 82 mounted in bearings 83 of brackets 84 carried by the frame. These respective levers 82 remote from the links 8|', have an eye-carrying short arm 85 through which extend rods 86 from fixed brackets 81. Upon the rods 86 are compression helical springs 88 having thrust heads 89 at the arms 85. Nuts 89 may adjust the compression and thereby'the holding action of the block 19 as to the cam 11.

In the belt drive, the lever 51, opposite from the arm or projection 63, has projection 90 acted upon by compression helical spring 9| (Fig. 1), thus normally at all times to hold the roller 56 toward the cam 55.

Retrieving the supply at cutting operation When the knife 44, 45, is down in severing effecting position as to the block 46, a cam 92 on the shaft 23, rides against a roller 93 on a block 46 thereon for the block is held with the belt 41 by the prongs or fiights 49. This means a clear cutting off is effected by the knife 44, 45, with a clearance of the block 46 as to the knife as such knife ascends and leaves the pins 14 with a pair of service sections from the block impinged on the pins and above the table 15.

Spreading of service section pair On the shaft 23 is a cam 99 (Figs. 1, 9) to act upon a roller |00 carried by a lever |0I, mounted in a fulcrum |02 fixed with the frame. In the transmission system from the bell crank lever |0|, a link |03, a lever |04, act upon a compression spring |05 to hold the roller |00 toward the cam 99.

The spring |05 acts against a stop |06 fixed with the frame. About the spring |05 and pivotally connected to be shifted in a guide or slide way |01 fixed with the frame, is a bar |08 which has mounted thereon a pawl |09, normally thrown by a spring I0 into meshing engagement with a ratchet fixed with a shaft ||2. A bearing sleeve ||3 (Fig. 9) encircles the shaft ||2. Near one end of this sleeve is located the ratchet and near the other end thereof, is a carrier or rotary table ||4. The sleeve ||3 is fixed with the frame.

Fixed with the frame and sleeve ||3 adjacent the under` side of the carrier ||4 is a cam ||5 engaged by rollers ||6 (Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8). The rollers |6 are mounted on slide bars I1, radially directed in guides ||18 fixed with the carrier ||4. Springs H8 act on the bars ||1 to thrust the rollers ||6 toward the cam ||5. As the carrier ||4 is shifted to move pins 14 away from the receiving station where a pair of sections ||9 of congealed material is impinged one adjacent the other, the cam ||5 has its section |20 act to thrust the slide bar ||1 in such progress radially outward, with its terminal wedge |2| acting upon arms |22 having depending rods |22' mounting the pins 14. A pivot pin |23 is located one on each side of the wedge |2| and serves as a ful Crum for the respective arms |22 thereon to be swung away from its companion arm. Thereby,

the pair of pins 14 on such arm spreads its impinged service Iportion or section ||9 away from its companion section, to provide a degree of clearance therebetween. This outward swinging action of the depending arms |22 is against springs |24.

Coating to a lever |29 in a bearing |30 fixed with the u frame. The lever |29 has a slot connection |3| with an upwardly directed link |32 to a slide pins 13 or the arms The upper portion of the slide |33 has an arm |34 to mount (Fig. 10) a cup |35 having in its bottom a check valve |36 veffective upon descent into the liquid bath of immersing substance, such as hot chocolate |31 in the reservoir 32, to bring up a quantity thereof upon the lifting of this cup. Such lifting of the cup |35 is at the coating station and is to such an extent that the pin impinged pair of spread service portions H9 are fully immersed. YThis occurs at this station of rest in the intermittent progress of the carrier HG. Simultaneously, there is occurring at the delivery station, a repetition of supply operation for an additional or subsequent pair of service portions to be severed from the supply block and mounted on the pins 1d.

The roller |26 is held against the cam |25 (Fig. 13) through links |36, levers |39, and springs |40, similar to the assembly from the links 8| and the springs 63.

Congealing In practice, especially in such coating, as ice cream service portions with hot chocolate, it is in order to provide a time interval for the chocolate coating to set. Accordingly herein several steps are allowed for such timing in the transit toward a succeeding operation. Below the suspended chocolate coated pair of bars on such journeyv is located a pan. |4| to conserve any excess which may drip therefrom. As such accumulates, the pan |4| may be emptied into the reservoir 32.

Kick-o1? .A cam |42 on the shaft 23 contacts a roller |43 (Figs. 1, 4, 9, 13) on an arm |44 connected to a link |45 extending to a rockshaft |45' in bearings |46 of the frame. Fixed with the rock shaft |65' are arms |41, |43. The arm |46 through a spring |49 holds the roller |63 against. the ca'm |42. The arm |41 reciprocates Ia slide |53 mounted in a guide fixed with the frame. The slide |56 has a head |52 which is thrust at the kick-off station against the chocolate coated service pair of portions |53. This discharge is effected against the resistance of springs |56 at the head |62.

Defrosting the cleared pins With the coated service portion pair |53 discharged, the pins 1d should be clear of any adhering chocolate or ice cream. For this washing, cleaning or defrosting operation, so that as the pins are again at the delivery station, it has been found helpful to immerse the pins 13 in a bath, as of a hot oil |55 in the vessel or chamber 39 (Figs. l1, 13). To this end, the transmission connection effecting the coating operation at a period of rest following the supply or delivery station, in advance' of such delivery station, at a region |55 of the cam retracts thespreading of the pins 16. The crosshead |21, has, through a link |56 and a lever |51, a link |51', an actuation connection to a slide |58 and a guide |59 therefor, in similar set up to the chocolate dipper cup |35. However, on this the opposite side of the frame, the slide |58 is to an overhangingvarm |66 effective to lift a cup |6| from the reservoir or chamber 39. In such lifting, a volume of the hot oil from the portion |55, is brought to position to immerse the pins 1d. Any adhering or coating' material is thereby melted off the pins which, as the cup |6| descends, are in position for travel to the delivery receiving station. A chute |62 is in position to direct any dripping oil from the |22', back to the vessel 33.

The carrier has accordingly been traced through a complete cycle of operations, which as shown is step-by-step, with such sequence that at each station an operation is taking place under normal functioning.

The timing More briefly, feeding interval |63 (Fig. 16) is of a block 46, before there be any severance as shown by dotted lines |64, |65 (Fig. 2). A succeeding interval is that of cutting |66 (Fig. 16), when the blade 44, 45, effects severance of a pair of service portions H9 from the block 36. Retrieving operation |61 of the belt 41 from the table 15 occurs 'more or less overlapping such with an interval |68 of shifting of the carrier H3 to its next stop.

It is proper to consider the timing as within the interval of rotation of the shaft 23 (Fig. 14) for the respective cycles. An interval |69 (Fig. 16) for dipping due to the cam |25 may be effective for coating at the cup |35 (Fig. 10). Simultaneously at the remote station, the cup 16| (Fig. l1) clears the pins 16 at the opposite side of the carrier |14 from adhering material. Such clearing of the pins is at station following the kick-off |10 from cam |42,at which the congealed coated service portions are thrust clear of the machine to land on a receiver or table |1|, to be given a wrapping, packing or such other attention as may be in order. i The period of collapse or proximity for the pins 16 is at the region |55 due to the cam ||5 from defrosting to past receiving a pair of sections as impinged thereupon by the thrusting action from the belt 41. The balance of the travel of the carrier has the cam ||5 effectiveas to its larger diameter portion |20 to hold the pins 14 in service portion pair spreading relation.

The disclosure is of handling bulk material from definite form quantity, say as to cross section, regardless of length. The handling is for subdivision in a plurality of directions, herein shown as at least two portions adjacent and extending away frorn the bulk residue. While specially adapted to ice cream, the commodity may be other edible, or even non-edible substance. susceptible to severance. The severed sections are herein handled to be coated. Such applied substance is herein shown as dissimilar to the body d6 for congealing as a jacket on this body. The bath for ready envelope effect is shown as of liquid instead of other state. For edibles, coating may be of therange of frostings, color effects, syrups for favor, but for non-edibles there may be pigment carriers with or without pigment. Defrosting of the pins means to bring a cleanser thereto, and in lieu of vapor blast, water, or possible taste-imparting substance (not desired for edible product), warmed oil may be used which is. tasteless and efficient at the normal speed in operation of the machine.

Slots |12 (Figs. 1, 12) for bolts |13 provide belt I tightener adjustment means for the conveyer belt What is claimed and it is desired to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus for subdividing a supply block comprising a supply way for the block, a cutter transversely of the terminus of the way, a carrier adjacent the cutter, and a drive device including step-by-stepprogressing means for the block as to the supply, cutter actuating means for severing a section from the block between the step intervals of the block progress, registering shifting means for the carrier having receiving pins upon which the progressed block impinges as progressed past the cutter, said pins as entering the block being clear of the cutter, said carrier having a bath station to which the pin-mounted severed section is progressed, a reservoir at the bath station, and means for elevating said reservoir to coat the pin-mounted section during an interval of rest for the carrier.

2. Apparatus for subdividing a supply block comprising a supply way for the block, a cutter transversely of the terminus of the Way, a carrier adjacent the cutter, and a drive device including step-by-step progressing means for the block as to the supply, cutter actuating means for severing a section from the block between the step intervals of the block progress, registering shifting means for the carrier having receiving pins upon which the progressed block impinges as progressed past the cutter, said pins as entering the block being clear of the cutter, said carrier having a bath station to which the pin-mounted severed section is progressed, a reservoir at the bath station, means for elevating said reservoir to coat the pin-mounted section during an interval of rest for the carrier, said carrier having a period of timing space from the bath station for congealing the coating, a kick-off station, and means for shifting the pinsupported coated section clear of the carrier.

3. Apparatus for subdividing a supply block comprising a supply way for the block, a cutter transversely of the terminus of the way, a carrier adjacent -the cutter, and a drive device in cluding step-by-step progressing means for the block as to the supply, cutter actuating means for severing a section from the block between the step intervals of thelblock progress, registering shifting means for the carrier having receiving pins upon which the progressed block impinges as progressed past the cutter, said pins as entering the block being clear of the cutter, said carrierfhaving a bath station to which the pin-mounted severed section is progressed, a reservoir at the bath station, means for` elevating said reservoir to coat the pin-mounted section during an interval of rest for the carrier, said carrier having a period of timing space from the bath station for congealing the coating, a kick-ofi station, means for there shifting the pinsupported coated section clear of the carrier,

and a defroster for the carrier pin as cleared of the coated section.

4. Apparatus for subdividing a supply block comprising a supply way for the block, a cutter transversely of the terminus of the way, a. carrier adjacent the cutter, said carrier having' a charge-receiving station for the cut section, ai?1 coating station, a congealing interval for the coating, a kick-off station, a defroster for section sustaining pins on the carrier, and drive means for controlling progress in sequence of a section from the block to the kick-01T.

5. Ice cream bar manufacturing apparatus comprising a knife device for simultaneously cutting an adjacent pair of sections from a supply block, engaging means receiving the section pair, a spacer for the engaging means to eiIect spreading therebetween, a chocolate bath, elevating means for the bath to submerge and coat the spread sections, a carrier for the engaging means to progress the sections in a time interval for congealing of the coating thereon, and discharge means for delivering the coated pair of sections from the apparatus.

6. Foodstuff service portion manufacture comprising progressing a block, severing sections from the block, retracting the block from the severed sections, continuing the travel of the severed sections in approximating horizontal course from the block, enveloping said removed sections with a coating material, and then discharging the coated sections.

7. Foodstuff service portion manufacture comprising progressing a block, simultaneously severing a plurality of sections from the block, retracting the block from the severed sections, continuing the travel of the severed sections in approximating a horizontal course from the block, and during said travel establishing clearance between the group of sections as simultaneously removed from the block, enveloping the group of the severed sections with coating material, and then discharging the group of the coated sections.

8. Foodstui service portion manufacturing apparatus comprising feeding means for progressing a block of foodstuil, impinging means for the block terminus, a support for the block adjacent the impinging means, severing means for removing from the block terminus impinged portions of the blocks as sections to be supported by the impinging means, a retractor means acting on the support counter to the progress of the block as effected by the feeding means, said support as retracted leaving the impinged and severed portions sustained by the impinging means, lifting means for projecting a bath of coating materia1 to envelop the impinged and thereby carried sections, sequence control means timing the coated sections for congealing of the coating thereon, and discharge means for delivering the coated sections from the apparatus.

JOSEPH F. HAGERTY. 

